What are the types of NFTs?

There are two main types of NFTs: fungible and non-fungible tokens. Fungible NFTs are tokens that are interchangeable and unique at the same time. For example, if you own one USD token, you own them all. You have one token that could be exchanged for any other USD token. One USD token is the same as the next USD token. Fiat money, for example, is a fungible token. One USD token is the same as another. Non-fungible NFTs, on the other hand, are tokens that are unique and not interchangeable. For example, if you own one Pokemon card, then you own one of a kind. You can’t exchange it for any other Pokemon card. One Pokemon card is the same as another one of a kind Pokemon card. Artwork is a non-fungible token. One artwork is the same as another artwork of the same type and source.

What are the tools needed for developing NFTs?

Before you start building your own NFT, you’ll need a few essential tools and resources. First, you’ll need to select the blockchain platform https://boostylabs.com/blockchain/nft for your NFT. There are many different blockchain platforms out there that support the creation of NFTs, including Ethereum, EOS, and NEO. You’ll also need to select the development language for your smart contract. While there are numerous programming languages you can use, we recommend using Solidity, a programming language designed specifically for Ethereum-based smart contracts. Once you’ve selected the blockchain platform and language, you’ll need to create a wallet to store your tokens. You’ll also want to install the right tools for creating your token and smart contract.

How to develop an NFT

Now that you know the different types of NFTs, the tools you’ll need, and the basic steps to develop an NFT, it’s time to put everything into practice. As with most things related to coding, developing an NFT can be tricky. Make sure you follow all the instructions carefully and double check everything before you move on to the next step. If you ever feel stuck or unsure about what you’re doing, look for help online. You can find plenty of resources and tutorials to help you out along the way. If you’re following along with a tutorial, make sure you understand the concepts behind it. You don’t want to rush through just to complete the tutorial. This can lead to errors and mistakes that are much harder to correct later on. Start by choosing your software and setting up your environment. Then create a token contract, deploy your token contract to the blockchain, and design your NFT. Once you’ve created your token, you can start trading.

How to find the right platform for your NFT

If you’ve developed an NFT, you’ll need to find a platform that can support it. While some blockchain platforms have their own built-in marketplace, others don’t. If you’re developing an NFT on a non-fungible blockchain platform, you’ll need to find a marketplace where your NFT can be listed and traded. If you’re developing an NFT on a fungible blockchain platform, you’ll need to find a marketplace where your NFT can be listed and traded. Once you’ve found a marketplace, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll list your NFT as a token or tokenized asset.

How to price your NFT

If you’re developing an NFT on a fungible blockchain platform, it’s advisable to tokenize your asset. Doing so allows you to set the initial value of your NFT. You can start by making a list of all the features and benefits your product or service has to offer. Next, add a suitable markup to account for startup costs, taxes, and other expenses you need to cover before your product or service becomes profitable. Once you know the value of your product or service, you can use it to determine the initial value of your NFT. If you’re developing an NFT on a non-fungible blockchain platform, it’s best to tokenize your product. Doing so allows you to set the initial value of your product. You can start by making a list of all the features and benefits your product or service has to offer. Next, add a suitable markup to account for startup costs, taxes, and other expenses you need to cover before your product or service becomes profitable. Once you know the value of your product, you can use it to determine the initial value of your NFT. Remember, though, your NFT isn’t a standard ERC20 token. Make sure you set the value of your NFT according to its real value.

How to market your NFT

After you’ve created your NFT, it’s time to start marketing it. Start by joining as many cryptocurrency forums and social media groups as possible. You can also create and host your own Telegram and Discord groups where you can engage with potential customers and users and answer any questions they may have. Make sure you have a clear and compelling message that conveys the value of your product or service. You can use compelling imagery and videos to engage potential customers and users and help them understand what your product or service is all about. Once your NFT is listed on a marketplace, you can start marketing it directly to potential buyers as well. You can use advertisements, emails, and newsletters to reach out to potential customers and encourage them to buy your product or service.

Conclusion

Creating a token on a blockchain platform is the easiest way to list and market a new product or service. In addition, by creating a non-fungible token, you’re creating a unique product that can’t be exchanged or replaced. This can make your product or service more desirable to customers who want something that is unique and special. Developing your own NFT is a challenging and time-consuming process, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding one. Once your NFT is listed on a marketplace, you can sit back and watch as it grows in value and becomes increasingly desirable to other users.

The post A Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Your Own NFT appeared first on Zocada.

Understanding Client Requirements

To ensure excellence and uniformity in video production, the initial step involves thoroughly grasping the client’s needs. Start by developing a comprehensive brief that outlines the goals and key messages to be conveyed, as well as the anticipated applications of the final product. Collaborate with the client to identify central themes for inclusion in the video, using these as a foundation for a well-planned shot list.

Comprehensive Briefing Document

At times, only a brief event description and fundamental guidelines are provided initially. In such instances, it’s essential to expand on the client’s ideas by offering expert advice and insights from past experiences. During this planning phase, reviewing video content previously created by other client vendors is crucial to ensure that the final videos align with the organization’s style and satisfy audience expectations.

Specifying Technical Aspects

Once a brief has been defined, the technical aspects should be signed off by the customer by use of a service agreement, specifying video length, formats, resolutions, and frame rates. Furthermore, this document must detail the provision of licensing additional copyrighted content, including music and stock imagery, and the scope of the licenses for the intended publishing.

Quality Control During Filming

During the production day, it’s crucial to reconfirm that the client has secured all required permissions for filming both participants and the venue. Utilize a checklist to ensure quality control during setup, which includes verifying color balance, detecting interference, and monitoring audio levels.

For event filming, it’s common to encounter unscheduled elements, making it essential to accommodate a non-linear shot sequence. Consistently referring to the shot list throughout the day helps guarantee comprehensive event coverage. Periodically reviewing captured footage ensures that quality standards are consistently maintained.

Backing Up Files and Reviewing

Prior to initiating post-production, establish secure online and offline backups of the original files as a precautionary measure. Thoroughly review all footage and discuss the findings with the client during the debrief. To facilitate quick and efficient feedback from multiple team members in a secure setting, utilize review tools like those offered by Frame.io. By adding time-coded notes directly linked to specific frames, pro tools streamline the process, eliminating the need for extensive descriptions of video alterations.

Checking Compatibility and Appearance

During the concluding stages of color grading and mastering, it is vital to perform multi-device testing to assess compatibility and presentation. Considering the significant consumption of video content on mobile devices, this evaluation is crucial, particularly with regard to audio compression and adaptation to diverse screen sizes and technologies.

Tips for Flawless Quality Control

Upon project completion, encourage all participants to share feedback on both the final output and the quality control procedures, enabling continuous improvement. It’s important to recognize that technical and editorial errors can occur in any environment, particularly in creative fields such as video production. Implementing a robust quality control system and appointing a dedicated Quality Control Officer can help uphold high standards and minimize errors that could potentially impact your company’s professional reputation.

Being Fully Focused and Conducting Personal Checks

The key to spotting all potential errors during quality control is to make sure that you are fully focused on the task at hand. Ensure that those around you are aware of what you are doing, and clear time in your schedule to watch the full video. Noise-canceling headphones are a great way to block out any noise in your work environment, allowing you to give all your attention to the video, whilst the world goes on around you.

Using spelling and grammar tools can help flag up any potential errors. Checking that the name straps on the video correctly match both the spelling of a contributor’s name and their job title is also essential. If you are unsure of the spelling, you can visit a site like LinkedIn or check the creative brief your contributor should have filled in.

Raising Potential Problems in a Respectful Way

Many errors in video production occur because the person doing the check either does not want to offend the editor by raising what they think is a potential problem or does not have enough confidence in themselves to bring up a mistake. Both of these attitudes can be dangerous as there is no harm in raising a potential problem, and a reasonable editor will welcome any feedback if phrased in a respectful way.

Noting any problems as you go through them and only raising them once the whole piece has been watched will allow you to make a solid judgment as to whether there is a problem. The quality control officer needs to stand up and take responsibility. If they don’t mention a mistake, which later is raised by someone else, their own ability will be called into question.

Bringing a Fresh Pair of Eyes to Quality Control

Editors can spend hours looking through a video and could easily miss a mistake. However, if you check it over, you’ll bring a fresh pair of eyes and are likely (especially on the first watch-through) to spot things that they haven’t. Key things to look out for are big color shifts in the image, out-of-focus shots, or anything that just doesn’t seem to work. If you can’t follow the structure of the video, it is likely that others won’t either.

You should always watch the video a couple of times to double-check that any changes that have been made do not affect its overall flow and to ensure that any mistakes made have been corrected.

Using a System to Prevent Confusion and Missed Steps

When checking on multiple videos, which are all at various stages, it is very easy to get confused about what you’ve already checked. The best way to prevent this is to make sure you have a system in place. Your system could be as simple as a checklist or even a flowchart that outlines what needs to be looked at, that way you’ll always know where you are in the process.

To make it even easier, you could even use your initials to mark where you’re up to, to reassure yourself that the video has been proven to be the highest standard it can be, and that no steps have been missed. 

In conclusion, achieving a high level of quality and consistency in video production requires a structured approach that follows internal procedures and checks. It is essential to gain a detailed understanding of the client’s requirements and work closely with them to ensure that their ideas are incorporated into the final product.

Summary

Quality control is a crucial part of the video production process and requires a sharp focus on the task at hand. Using noise-canceling headphones and spelling and grammar tools can help eliminate distractions and errors. Checking for potential problems and raising them in a respectful way is important to ensure that mistakes are caught early on and that the final product meets the required quality standards. Having a system in place to keep track of the quality control process can help prevent confusion and ensure that no steps are missed. By following these steps, video production teams can consistently produce high-quality work that meets the client’s requirements and exceeds their expectations.

The post A Structured Approach to Quality Control in Video Production for High-Quality Videos appeared first on Zocada.

Income Potential

Video editors can earn a wide range of salaries depending on factors such as experience, geographical location, and the type of projects they work on. On average, according to Indeed, a video editor in the United States earns around $45,000 per year. However, experienced video editors can earn as much as $120,000 per year, while beginners may earn around $40,000. Freelance video editors can earn up to $55,000 per year, depending on their workload and client base.

Step-by-Step Guide to Your Video Editing Career

Step 1: Learn the basics of video editing software

Familiarize yourself with popular video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Familiarize yourself with popular video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolver. Many online tutorials and courses can help you learn the basics of these programs.

Step 2: Gain experience by working on personal projects or assisting more experienced editors

Practice your editing skills by creating your own videos or offering your services to friends, family, or local businesses. You can also volunteer to assist more experienced video editors to learn from their expertise.

Step 3: Build a portfolio of your work to showcase your skills to potential employers

A strong portfolio is crucial for demonstrating your capabilities to potential clients or employers. Compile your best work and create a website or digital portfolio to showcase your editing skills.

Step 4: Get a formal education

While not always necessary, obtaining a degree in film production, broadcasting, or a related field can provide you with a solid foundation in video editing techniques and help you stand out in the job market.

Step 5: Network and look for entry-level or freelance opportunities

Networking is essential for finding job opportunities in the video editing industry. Attend industry events, join online forums, and connect with other video editors to discover potential job openings.

Step 6: Improve your skills and stay current with industry trends and technological advancements

Continuously hone your skills and keep up to date with the latest trends and tools in the video editing industry. This will ensure that you remain competitive and in-demand as a video editor.

YouTube video editing

YouTube has become a dominant platform for content creators and businesses alike. High-quality video editing can significantly impact the success of a YouTube channel by enhancing storytelling, creating engaging visuals, and improving overall video quality. Therefore, skilled video editors are in high demand for producing captivating YouTube content.

Tips for becoming a successful YouTube video editor

1. Understand the YouTube platform and its algorithms to optimize your videos for better visibility and engagement;
2. Develop a distinctive editing style that complements the content creator’s brand and appeals to their target audience;
3. Stay current with popular trends and adapt your editing techniques accordingly;
4. Master the art of storytelling through video editing to keep viewers engaged;
5. Learn how to efficiently edit and deliver content in a timely manner, as consistency is vital for successful YouTube channels.

Hard skills and soft skills

1. Proficiency in video editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and DaVinci Resolve;
2. A strong understanding of storytelling techniques and narrative structure;
3. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to identify and correct errors;
4. The ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously;
5. Strong communication skills to effectively collaborate with clients, directors, and other team members;
6. Creativity and the ability to think outside the box to develop innovative editing solutions.

A thorough understanding of video formats, codecs, and export settings to ensure optimal video quality.

Communication skills

• Actively listen and ask questions to gain a clear understanding of your client’s or team’s vision and expectations;
• Develop strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate your ideas and edits clearly;
• Regularly update clients or team members on the progress of projects and discuss any challenges or changes;
• Be open to feedback and demonstrate a willingness to adjust your work based on constructive criticism.

Teamwork

• Facilitates a better understanding of the project’s goals and objectives, resulting in more effective video edits;
• Encourages collaboration and fosters a positive working environment where ideas can be exchanged freely;
• Reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings or miscommunications, saving time and effort;
• Allows for the pooling of expertise and resources, resulting in higher-quality video content.

A good memory

A good memory is crucial for video editors as it enables them to remember the details of various projects, recall specific editing techniques, and efficiently navigate through complex video editing software.

Qualifications

While formal qualifications are not always necessary, they can provide a solid foundation in video editing techniques and help you stand out in the job market. Degrees in film production, broadcasting, or a related field can be beneficial. Additionally, obtaining certifications in major video editing software like Avid, Filmora, and Adobe apps demonstrates your expertise and commitment to the field.

Certifications

Many software developers offer certification programs to validate your skills in their applications. For example, Adobe, Avid, and Filmora provide various certification levels and courses. To obtain these certifications, you must pass exams that test your knowledge and proficiency in the software.

Right editing tools

Choose video editing software based on your skill level, the type of projects you will be working on, and your budget. Research different software options, read reviews, and experiment with trials before committing to a particular program.

Best video editing software

Beginners may prefer user-friendly software like Adobe Premiere Pro CC, while professionals may opt for advanced tools like Final Cut Pro.

For beginners: Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Pros:

• Beginner-friendly;
• Advanced features;
• System optimization;
• Pre-rendering graphics;
• Low system requirements;
• Cheap license.

Cons:

• Requires experience with other Adobe products for efficient use;
• Not suitable for pro film editing.

For pros: Final Cut Pro

Pros:

• Advanced tools;
• Huge plugins library;
• Pre- and post-rendering;
• HDR;
• Widely used by filmmakers;
• Optimized rendering speed;
• Color correction;
• 360 degrees VR.

Cons:

• Expensive license;
• Requires a powerful workstation to run;
• Works only on Mac.

Conclusion

Becoming a successful video editor requires dedication, practice, and a willingness to learn. By following the steps outlined in this guide and continuously honing your skills, you can thrive in the ever-evolving world of video editing. Stay up to date with industry trends, master essential editing software, and embrace opportunities for growth and networking to ensure a successful career in video editing.

The post The Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Successful Video Editor appeared first on Zocada.

Data Collection and Pre-processing

The first step in building a machine learning model is to collect and prepare the data. Data is the fuel that powers machine learning models, and without high-quality data, you cannot build a high-quality model. There are several key considerations when collecting data for a model, including type and source of data, data format, and data volume. Before collecting data, you should determine how much data you need. While more data is always better, you need to ensure that collecting and pre-processing the data does not take longer than the model’s expected lifespan. Most machine learning models are built to make predictions for a specific timeframe. After that timeframe, the model’s accuracy will begin to degrade.

Feature Engineering

Once you have collected and prepared your data, you need to transform it into a format that can be used by the machine learning model. This is known as feature engineering, and it is an important part of the modeling process. There are three main considerations when feature engineering your data: univariate transformation, selection of relevant features, and transformation of categorical variables. Univariate transformation is the process of converting continuous variables, such as age and weight, into new categorical variables, such as age groups and weight groups. In most modeling scenarios, continuous variables are binned into groups to make them easier to use in the model. Selecting relevant features is important because the model will use these features to make predictions. You want to ensure that the features are relevant to your modeling scenario to avoid misleading predictions and false positives. Finally, transformation of categorical variables is important because machine learning models perform better with categorical variables than with raw numbers.

Model Selection

Once you have selected the data you want to use and transformed it into the format needed by the model, you need to select the appropriate model. A wide variety of machine learning models can be used to solve a wide variety of problems. The first step in selecting a model is determining which type of model you want to use. There are three main types of machine learning models: These three models each have unique strengths and weaknesses, and each model can be used to solve a variety of problems. Once you have selected a model type, you need to identify the best model for your specific problem. The model with the highest accuracy does not always win. You need to assess the model’s error rate, the interpretability of the model, and the time needed to train the model. In some cases, it may be better to use a model with a lower accuracy rate if it has a lower error rate, provides better insights, or can be trained faster.

Model Training

After you have selected the model and prepared the data, you are ready to train the model. During training, the model is given the prepared data along with the expected outcomes. The model uses this data to uncover patterns and make predictions. While there are many techniques for training a machine learning model, most models are either trained using an online or offline approach. Online models use parallel processing and can be used to predict multiple outcomes in near real time. Offline models use serial processing and can be used to make predictions offline. The best approach to use depends on the model and the problem being solved. While there are many different techniques for training a machine learning model, there are three key considerations that should be evaluated during each training session. The first consideration is model accuracy. You want to ensure that the model is accurately uncovering patterns and making accurate predictions. You can use a variety of metrics, including accuracy, ROC, and AUC, to ensure that the model is performing well. The second consideration is model bias and variance. Bias is the tendency of the model to consistently predict a specific outcome. Variance refers to the range of values the model is predicting. You want to ensure that the model is neither too biased nor too inconsistent.

Model Evaluation

After the model has been trained, you can evaluate the accuracy of the model by testing it against a holdout dataset. A holdout dataset is a portion of the data that was not used during training. The model can be tested against a new, completely unrelated dataset to determine how well it generalizes. There are three key considerations when evaluating the model. The first consideration is model accuracy. You want to ensure that the model is accurately predicting the outcomes in the holdout dataset. You can use a variety of metrics, including accuracy, ROC, and AUC, to ensure that the model is performing well. The second consideration is model variance. You want to ensure that the model is not too inconsistent. You can use a model’s standard deviation and coefficient of variation to determine how consistent the model is. The third consideration is model interpretability. You can use a variety of techniques to assess model interpretability, including t-tests and R2 values.

Model Deployment

After you have selected the model and trained it, you are ready to deploy it. There are many considerations when deploying a machine learning model, including model type, cost, and maintenance requirements. You also need to consider who will use the model and how it will be deployed. Once you have selected the model type, you can use that model to solve a variety of problems. If you follow these steps, you will have the skills you need to create your own machine learning prediction model. With dedication, you can create a model that can make accurate predictions and transform any industry.

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Introduction to website navigation design patterns

We live in a world, where the Internet has taken over businesses in seemingly any industry. According to Web Tribunal, over 2 billion websites are on the internet, with 400 million active. Kommando Tech claims that nearly 20 million of them are E-Commerce stores, what impressive competition just in one industry! Other industries like Manufacturing, Healthcare, Tourism, and Food Delivery have different amounts of websites, but the overall picture is similar.

Kickstand claims that an average user in the United States of America visits over 100 web pages per day. What can you do in order to make one of those pages to be yours? This is a complex question and there are a lot of elements involved, including SEO and Marketing efforts. However, when the user indeed ends up on your page, the website navigation design is king! We will share our expertise and experience on this topic so that you will be able to end up with a reasonable website redesign price during your reconstruction. In the following sections, we will break down the most popular types of website navigation, so you don’t have to!

“To design is much more than simply to assemble, to order, or even to edit: it is to add value and meaning, to illuminate, to simplify, to clarify, to modify, to dignify, to dramatize, to persuade, and perhaps even to amuse. To design is to transform prose into poetry.”

— Paul Rand, an American art director, and graphic designer

What is website design navigation?

Before getting into the patterns, let’s begin with the basics. Navigation design is a process of analyzing, creating, and implementing the ways users go through a website or a mobile app.

Bad navigation is one of the top reasons for users leaving a website:

For B2B clients, this is also a very significant reason to leave:

The main goal of coming up with website navigation graphic design is to offer users the least frustrating journey from point A to point B. To achieve this result, the designer must combine User Interface patterns, as well as links, labels, texts, buttons, etc.

The best website navigation design can help you to achieve:

• Improve user experience and user understanding of your product
• Reduce the number of customers that you can potentially lose
• Increase sales and boost your revenue, as a result,
• Improve the reputation of your brand and overall business credibility

The key types of navigation that are used most commonly

Now, let’s discuss the most widespread website navigation structures in greater detail, as well as website navigation best practices on when to use each of them.

Top Horizontal Bar

This one is among the top two types of menus on websites. The traditional usage of top horizontal bars is in the role of the primary navigation menu. It is usually located right above or below the header of a web page. This type of navigation is often paired up with drop-down menus, and in combination, they offer multiple levels of navigation without taking up a lot of space on the page.

Key traits

• Text links are used, which are button-shaped or tabbed-shaped
• Horizontal navigation is placed near the website’s logo
• Most commonly located above the fold

Disadvantages

The biggest drawback with this element is a certain number of links that you can actually place in a bar without the need for adding sub-navigation menus. For a website navigation menu with a limited number of options, it is not a big concern, however, if you have a complex website with a variety of categories you should consider adding additional levels of navigation that we will talk about in the next sections.

Best usage

It is perfect for displaying up to 12 navigation items. While it also works great for primary navigation for single-column website layouts.

Tabs

Tabs can be styled any way you need, from realistically textured tabs to any styling you can imagine. This pattern can be used on any kind of website and are especially popular across mobile apps.

Tabs stand out among other website menu types by being intuitive. People can easily relate to tabs because they are used to their physical equivalent – tabs in notebooks.

Key traits

• Visually resemble actual tabs like in folders or binders
• More popular in horizontal orientation, however, you may find them in vertical position (vertically oriented tabs are called stacked tabs)

Disadvantages

Probably, the biggest disadvantage is the fact that tabs don’t work well for navigation with a lot of links, they may look messy and awkward in a design. Additionally, tabs require more markup, image assets, and CSS.

Best usage

While tabs may fit almost any type of navigation, they work better with a limited number of links and preferably horizontally.

Breadcrumb

The name originated from the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, where the main characters left breadcrumbs throughout their journey to find their way back home. This is a very popular navigation structure of a website, and is commonly used on millions of websites. Breadcrumbs show exactly where you are on a website, and can be considered a secondary navigation that supports the primary navigation system.

Key traits

• Commonly looks like a horizontal list of text links with arrows pointing the direction of the hierarchy
• Always used as a secondary navigation and never as a primary

Disadvantages

• Breadcrumbs don’t work well with small websites with simple structures or websites that don’t have a clear structure and sole navigation destination

Best usage

Breadcrumbs fit best for the website with clearly defined sections, as well as multiple levels of categorizations. Without that, breadcrumbs can become confusing and negatively impact user experience.

Vertical Bar or Sidebar

In this pattern, the items are arranged in a single column, one on top of another. It is commonly placed on the top-left column, preceding the main content area. You can find this type of navigation on almost any website because this is one of the most versatile patterns that can include a lot of links.

Key traits

• Text links without icons for navigation items
• Rare usage of tabs
• A big number of links

Disadvantages

Because with this menu it is possible to put many links, you can easily put too many of them and hurt the overall UX and design. It will be a good idea to limit the number of links in your vertical bar and leverage fly-out sub-navigation menus to include everything needed.

Best usage

You can use this type of navigation for any website, especially one with a big number of links.

Search

In the last few years, search navigation become a very popular navigation method. Large E-Commerce websites with thousands of items can’t live without properly implemented search navigation functionality. This method will work best when your users know exactly what they want.

In combination with a good layout of the information, great search functionality will help your users search for items whether they know or don’t know what they want.

Key traits

• Often located at the top of a sidebar or a header
• Usually, search bars are repeated in the footer, a bottom part of a page

Disadvantages

The biggest disadvantage lies on the technical side. If you go with a ready-made solution for your platform, the actual search engine may work not as well as intended. Of course, you can always contact support and the manager may fix your issues, however, it will take time. A proper search engine is a strong argument for hiring a custom software development team and building the entire website from the ground up or adding search functionality as a feature. With a custom software development provider, you will always know for sure that your back-end part is covered and everything is working just as intended.

Best usage

Remember, that this is always secondary navigation. Having a clear and intuitive path to your pages is a key to great user experience. With that being said, if your platform has hundreds of pages, it makes sense to implement search functionality with different filters that can help to find what the user is looking for.

FAQ

What is website navigation design patterns?

This is the way to place the links on a website that will help the user to navigate through it. There are multiple popular patterns that fit different roles and goals.

What are the 5 types of website navigation?

The most popular include Top Horizontal Bar, Vertical Bar or Sidebar, Tabs, Breadcrumbs, and Search. However, there are many other useful patterns that may come in handy.

What is the goal of website navigation?

The goal is to provide the most logical and intuitive journey from point A to point B for the user. The designer should use different patterns and graphical elements in order to make this journey seamless for the end user.

What makes a good navigation design?

Just like with any other design, good design is an invisible design. When your users don’t think about navigation at all and just use the website, that means that the job is done well and this part of the user experience is covered.

The post Website Navigation Design Patterns: The 2023 Guide appeared first on Zocada.

Are you an app developer thinking of the best legal framework to make this activity your business? We bet you consider a sole proprietorship and a limited liability company. In our overview, you’ll find some quick answers. 

Sole Proprietorship vs LLC: How They Compare

Despite the fact that the digital world is intangible and feels unreal, many people make money in this area. While creating an app is mostly about writing a code and tinkering with it to match certain criteria, it seems that app developers don’t need more than a laptop. In practice, they have a lot more to think of to push their products to the marketplace and make them work. 

You can get enrolled in a marketplace as a sole proprietor or a company. This is when most app developers face the issue of which structure is better for them. 

Obviously enough, a sole proprietorship is an enterprise with a single owner. It’s a so-called unregistered entity that needs no state filing. In fact, it emerges as soon as you start selling something and getting money for that. These entities are automatically named after their owners and are directly associated with them. You are not separate from your venture and are in charge of all the business-related issues. Should any lawsuit occur due to the errors in your app, you’ll be sued individually. 

In the meantime, an LLC is a formal framework that requires state filing to be formed. Once it’s registered, it exists as an independent entity separate from you. Though setting up an LLC does involve some paperwork fuss and is a bit more complex process than opening a sole proprietorship, in case of a lawsuit, it’s the LLC that will be held liable, not you. 

Sole Proprietorship Advantages for App Developers

One of the most popular enterprise forms in the US as of today, a sole proprietorship is widely favored by startuppers, freelancers, first-time businessmen, those who work from home, and owners of smaller private firms. As such, it has quite a few benefits going for it:

• As a sole business owner, you’ll be entitled to all enterprise profits and won’t have to share them with partners;
• There will be no need to fiddle with numerous documents, forms, and applications or observe multiple formalities to open an unregistered firm. This will save you time on filling out the paperwork and money on state fees;
• Being an unregistered entity, it requires no annual report filing, thus, keeping yet another annoying formality at bay;
• Thanks to pass-through taxation principles valid for disregarded entities, you’ll enjoy simplified tax filing. You won’t have to report corporate taxes. The enterprise revenue will transfer to your own tax report and will be taxed under your individual rate;
• As a sole proprietor, you’ll be exposed to self-employment tax which will add to your overall tax burden. On the bright side, though, you’ll get access to special retirement plans and added tax deductions that will enable you to write off certain enterprise-related expenses and compensate for the self-employment tax. 

Beginner app developers often work remotely as freelancers, so a sole proprietorship offers a hassle-free and budget-friendly way to formalize their business. 

LLC Advantages for App Developers

If app development is your major business that generates thousands of dollars, at some point, you might think about opening an LLC to support it. This legal structure is the right choice to catch up with the business growth and ensure some added peace of mind for yourself. The benefits it provides are hard to argue with:

• The biggest draw of an LLC is the liability shield it provides to its owners. Thus, whatever the dispute, lawsuit, or debt your LLC is involved in, your individual funds and property will be intact. It’s the legal entity and its assets that will be held liable;
• An LLC structure boasts flexible taxation that gives it an edge over other business forms. Thus, by default, LLCs are treated as sole proprietorships or general partnerships and are taxed as disregarded entities. Since company revenues and losses pass onto the tax returns of its owners, it allows for avoiding dual taxation. At the same time, you can choose an S-Corp status for your LLC to eliminate a self-employment tax payment and further optimize state charges for a growing business;
• When enrolling in the marketplace as an individual or an unregistered enterprise, your personal name will appear on your seller account. However, if you sign up as a company, your registered name will be displayed making you look more professional to customers and enhancing your business image credibility;
• With an LLC, your capital raising opportunities are much higher. Banks and credit organizations are reluctant to provide equity financing and business loans to non-registered business entities without a clear separation between company assets and those of its owners. 

Is a Sole Proprietorship Similar to a Single-Member LLC?

At a glance, these two enterprise forms might look the same. Both are owned and managed by a single person. Both enjoy disregarded entity taxation, are entitled to hire workers, and withdraw payroll levies. However, these two structures are not the same. 

They are distinguished by liability allocation. With a disregarded entity, you are responsible for the company’s debts, sues, and any other issues. Your individual assets are not protected against enterprise liabilities and can be seized by creditors to indemnify any damages or losses. 

In the meantime, an LLC is an incorporated entity not directly associated with you. Combining the best features of a corporation and a disregarded entity, it brings great tax perks and securely protects your personal funds and property from company liabilities. 

Consult With a Business Advisor

Even though it might seem to you that everything is clear about these two enterprise forms, don’t neglect taking advice from a professional business and tax consultant who can give accurate recommendations taking into account your current situation and future business plans.

Final Thoughts

Both a sole proprietorship and an LLC work fine for app developers. If you are just an amateur and your activity brings no specific risks, an unregistered entity will suffice for your beginner’s needs. Should you engage some partner developers or observe dynamic business growth, it’s better to launch an LLC to optimize taxes and protect your assets and rights.

The post Sole Proprietorship vs LLC: Which is Better for App Developers? appeared first on Zocada.

Programs
Programs running in the background can adversely affect your network connection, so it is worth checking your PC or smartphone for such applications. Some applications (ad blockers, VPN), on the contrary, can help you get rid of connectivity problems.

Virtual networks
VPN provides secure data transmission by creating an encrypted channel, masking the real location of the user. Also, virtual networks can help hide from ISP surveillance, which will positively affect the speed of Internet connection. Connect a virtual network for Windows 10 or an antivirus program with advanced features, if installed, use one of the free VPNs, the functionality of which is equal to paid programs. After connecting the application, monitor the speed of loading pages. If the problem is solved, connect to the Internet via virtual networks.

Remove unnecessary things
Some operating system programs may load the channel, working in the background. Open the Task Manager, the “Performance” tab and track applications whose processes are negatively affecting your connection.

Use an ad blocker
Ads with animated banners negatively affect page loading and browser speed. To fix the problem, install an ad blocker that not only helps get rid of annoying offers, but also greatly improves loading speed.

Intermediate equipment.
Often problems with Internet connection, page loading speeds are related to problems in the intermediate equipment. Router, which serves for many years, the network switch, which broke down, will cause regular disruptions to your connection. In some situations, to eliminate the cause it is sufficient to involve a wizard and timely update the firmware. Also you should pay attention to the availability of updates for the operating system of your computer, the lack of which can not only negatively affect the speed of connection, but also on the functioning of technology in general. Additional nuances:

1. Network card drivers may need to be updated, so you should periodically check the services for updates, improve the card automatically with special programs.
2. Put a password on wi-fi. Connection speed will be significantly reduced if strangers can connect to wi-fi without the knowledge of the owner of the technique. It is worth going to the settings of the device, open the section with wireless networks and set a strong password that will allow only a limited number of users to connect.
3. If the owner observes a sharp and sudden drop in speed, it is worth paying attention to the router – you may need to reset it to the factory settings. If restarting the equipment does not help, it is recommended to reset the settings again with the Reset button and set new values.
4. In too large rooms, the signal speed may deteriorate as the distance from the main distribution point. In this situation, repeaters or transmitters can help. The devices are placed in the apartment rooms, at home, later when you connect to the network repeaters will boost the signal, allowing the owner to connect to the Internet anywhere in the house.
5. Pay attention to the router model. In order to take advantage of the network, it is worth installing a timely router that supports 802.11.ac, 5GHz standards.

It is also worth paying attention to problems that can occur not only because of the intermediate hardware, but also because of the browser, software and other components.

Additional Ways
First of all, you should put your browser in order – check how many tabs are open, are there any pages that open automatically. When you enter the home page, many tabs will load automatically, slowing down your connection speed. Additional methods:

1. Turbo mode. Yandex and Google browsers have a special mode that uses standard algorithms to help pages load faster.
2. Check the torrent, whose giveaway and downloads share a connection channel. Remove the giveaway or put on a temporary pause files that you do not need at the moment.
3. Update your router. Check your network router’s settings, download new firmware from the router’s management page or from the router’s developer.
4. Stress on the home network. If many devices are connected to the connection at the same time, the channel will evenly divide the traffic among the appliances. The network range can be expanded or unnecessary devices can be disconnected.

If after checking your browser, tuning your router, and fixing problems with your home network, the speed hasn’t changed, you should pay attention to your provider. For example, upgrade your tariff plan if the speed you have is insufficient for work or entertainment, choose a different internet service provider if poor service is the cause of the problems. Choose a provider whose service will be more profitable, both economically and functionally.

The post How to speed up the Internet appeared first on Zocada.

Now students have a lot of opportunities to make money on the Internet. Among the common options are the following: arbitrage traffic (VKontakte, Instagram, Facebook, personal website, etc.), setting up contextual advertising, SEO-promotion, marketing in popular social networks and much more.

Arbitrage traffic (VKontakte, Instagram, Facebook, personal website)
In order to earn good and stable income, students give preference to such a direction as traffic arbitrage. This class includes practicing all the skills that specialists have for working on the Internet.

In simple terms, traffic arbitrage is the attraction of customers for a % of sales. In this case, the finances do not allocate anyone. You will have to spend your own money to set up advertising. After that, you can already receive a reward. In fact, such work is motivating, because the more sales, the higher the earnings.

You can give an example. For example, there is a certain company, seeking to increase sales. For the attracted buyer, it is ready to give 50 dollars. Arbitrator sets up advertising, investing their 250 dollars. As a result of this, let’s say there are 7 sales. The total remuneration will be $350. Thus, the amount of net profit is $100. In this situation, the main thing is to set up such advertising, which will effectively attract people and sell.

Sometimes the arbitrator is compared to the marketer, because they are engaged in the Internet promotion. However, these specialists have significant differences. Conventionally, arbitration is divided into “white” and “black”.

The first is the promotion of not prohibited methods. For example, it could be contextual or targeted advertising. “White” arbitrage is relevant among major brands such as AliExpress, Lamoda, etc.

The second option is promotion, which customers are misled. As a rule, it goes advertising bookmakers, casinos, etc. What option to give preference to – the choice of each individual.

When promoting services and goods, specialists use programs and various services to automate this process. However, the main helpers here are mobile proxies (e.g. https://mproxy.top/. They are dynamic, i.e. there is a change of IP-address. Mobile proxies minimize the risk of blocking and bans).

Selling goods (dropshipping is good for a student).
Many students think about entrepreneurship on the Internet. But here you should successfully choose a niche and, at least to a minimum, invest financial resources. And this is for the novice businessman will be risky. After all, the money invested can not work out. To pump up your capabilities of the seller and test a particular niche, it is better to give preference to dropshipping.

Dropshipping acts as an intermediary in the sale of goods from a warehouse. The intermediary’s job is to attract buyers and give the dropshipper (the manufacturer or supplier of the products) the order. In fact, the intermediary has no need to rent a warehouse, company registration, purchase of equipment, maintenance of tax reports.

Freelancing (copywriting, website creation, programming, SEO, contextual advertising, etc.)
Well, of course, the in-demand direction is freelancing. And what is more, it only gains momentum over the years. You can do copywriting, filling sites, if you like routine work. For a creative mind will be relevant design direction.

More complicated options – this creation of sites, programming, contextual advertising. In any case, all of the above specialists use programs to gather information, its processing. Managers of accounts in social networks use services for mass postings, comments, likes. Thus, whichever you prefer, it is necessary to use mobile proxies. They will solve the above tasks without blocking or bans.

The post How to make money on the Internet as a student: what is the best choice appeared first on Zocada.

When you rent a physical machine, you will have the opportunity to use separate server hardware for your needs, manage it and control its workflow. You will have special programs, special server equipment at your disposal, you can install the necessary operating system, and you will be able to carry out the necessary operations of a technical nature.

What affects the rental price?
After you rent physical equipment, you will have administrator rights to the server. For this reason you will be able to turn on, turn off or restart the server hardware, and you will be able to adjust the settings of the programs that you have installed, perform various operations on the system with the files and adjust the configuration settings of the allocated equipment.

A physical machine rental hosting service will give you the opportunity to use an entirely physical machine, which you can’t do if you rent a virtual machine. Physical equipment, among other things, allows you to install any software you need for convenient work. With this hosting service, you can implement a project of any scale and level of complexity. As a result, all the work will cost you comfortably and cheaply. A lot of hosting providers help their customers in the form of technical support, which often works around the clock, it allows you to effectively help customers.

When it comes to the cost of renting a physical machine, each of the hosting providers can offer different prices for rent, let’s look at what prices they offer. The company with the name Beget offers the provision of this hosting service already from $ 40 to $ 400 per month, and the hosting company Sprinthost takes to rent from $ 60 to $ 180 per month, and the company Fornex will offer rates that start from $ 20 to $ 250 per month, and in the company 1Dedic will take to rent the physical machine from $ 60 to $ 110 and more per month.

The post How much does it cost to rent a dedicated server? appeared first on Zocada.

Object-oriented programming is a rather complex subject in PHP. This makes it difficult for new programmers to understand PHP OOP, especially if they don’t have much programming experience.

Object-oriented programming appeared in PHP 4, but it gained momentum with PHP 5. In version 5, the PHP object model was rewritten to improve features and performance, and to introduce a complete object model for php classes.

What is object-oriented programming?
Object-oriented programming is a style of programming based on the concept of objects. It helps developers, prevents reinventing the wheel, and makes code easy to maintain and scale.

At first, object-oriented programming seems incomprehensible, but when you dig deeper, you’ll realize that it’s designed to simplify programming.

Why use object-oriented programming?
There are various advantages to using PHP OOP over procedural programming in PHP, such as:

Code reuse and rework: let’s say you want to build a Mercedes car object, and your friends want to build an Audi car object. You build your objects, but you discover that both objects have a lot in common between Mercedes and Audi, like the number of tires. In fact, both are cars. So instead of creating the two objects separately from scratch, if you have one class of cars with common properties and methods, you can save a lot of repetition by reusing and reworking the code.

Modularity: if you create several separate classes for different entities, you make them modular, and if you want to fix something, you only need to edit that particular class, not the others. This modularity turns out to be useful in troubleshooting.

Scalability: Object-oriented programs are more scalable than structured programs. The object interface provides all the information needed to replace an object, making it easy to replace old code or add new code to scale in the future.

Maintenance: programs are improved regularly with many changes. An object-oriented program is much easier to modify and maintain than an undirected program.

The concept of classes and objects
What is a class and object in PHP OOP?
Before we delve into the world of object-oriented programming, let’s learn about PHP classes and objects, which are the foundation of the PHP OOP paradigm.

A class is a data type defined by the programmer that contains various data types as well as various functions.

An object is an instance of a class. The object gets a copy of all the data and functions in the class, so it acts as an independent entity.

What are properties and methods?
Properties in a class are variables that can store data of different data types. A method is a function defined within a class.

All objects created in that class get a copy of that variable property and a copy of all member functions known as methods.

How do we create a class and an object?
In a class, we group the code that handles a certain topic. Thus, we must use a single noun like Car to name the class, which will handle logic about cars.

The syntax to create a class is very simple and straightforward. You must use the keyword class to declare the class followed by the name of the class.

• Declare a class using the keyword class.
• Use a singular noun and use the first letter.
• If the class name contains more than one word, then capitalize each word using the so-called CamelCase style spelling. For example: JapaneseCar, AmericanCar.
• A class instance is an object created from an existing class.
• new is used to create an object from a class.

Now you can very easily create an object from a class using the keyword new.

How to define properties in a class?
Properties or member variables are used to add and store data in a class. Properties can store values of data types – strings, integers, decimals, logical values, etc. They are just like regular variables, but they are associated with an object instance, and thus you can only access a variable with an object.

Constructor and destructor
There are several methods known as magic methods in PHP. Among them the two most important magic methods are __construct and __destruct. These two methods create a constructor and a destructor for the class. Remember, magic methods always start with two underscores.

What is a constructor and a destructor?

The __construct method is a method that is called by the class when it creates an object. It is used to prepare a new object for use. Constructors can be used to assign parameter values to object properties.

The __destruct method is a function that is called by the class when the object is destroyed. It is usually used to clear memory when an object is destroyed.

Visibility Assignment in PHP
Earlier we discussed the use of one of the keywords public, private and protected when defining a property or method. Public, Protected and Private are the three types of visibility in PHP for controlling access to properties, variables or methods.

Public: a public method or variable is available everywhere.
Private: if a variable property or method is private, then it is only accessible within the class. For example: if the color property of the Car class is private, then you cannot access it outside the class like – echo $bmw->color; but a method like getColor can access it because it is inside the class.
Protected: if a property variable or method is protected, it can be accessed from inside the class or from any class that inherits from that class.
Why shouldn’t we use public visibility all the time?

Because it is not all that safe to keep everything publicly visible. To make it safe, PHP OOP introduced these different features.

Static properties and methods
A static method or property can be accessed without having to create an instance object. Simply use the class name, the scope resolution statement, and the property or method name.

We’ve already studied three modifiers: private, protected, and public. Static is the fourth access modifier in PHP OOP that allows you to access properties and methods without having to create objects from classes.

Conclusion
PHP OOP offers many advantages over procedural programming and provides an easier approach to building complex web applications with easier scalability.

You are now familiar with the style of object-oriented programming and should have a clear understanding of the basic concepts of PHP OOP, i.e. object-oriented programming.

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